Shankar and Rajamouli are two sizeable directors of South India. Given his seniority and having good number of blockbusters in all the Southern languages, Shankar has been treated the best director as of now. However, Rajamouli poses a very big challenge to Shankar with his 'Baahubali'. Primarily, there is a big difference of attitudes between both the directors on star heroes, especially on number one heroes. Here goes the analysis.
Shankar's mark is clearly evidenced in every movie of his. Yet again, he is liked by every hero's fan. His sincerity on elevating heroism to the core is appreciable. Even though the story chosen by him is gripping and quoted with a heart touching message, hero of the movie is not anyway degraded in the movie. We can witness best heroism in movies like 'Gentleman', 'Bharatheeyudu', 'Okay Okkadu', 'Sivaji' latest offing 'I' and many other movies of Shankar. Above all, Shankar's attitude on respecting the power of star heroes betokens his modesty. He likes to direct number one hero Rajinikanth.
In contrast, Rajamouli seems to have transpired as a revolutionary director who wishes to dominate every aspect in movie making. Except a few movies like 'Vikramarkudu', 'Magadheera', 'Simhadri' etc., wherein both heroes and directors ruled the roost, domination of the director is clearly viewed in every movie of his. Unlike Shankar he shows no special interest in directing number one heroes and other superstars. No number one heroes are seen in his upcoming projects as well. He seems to have inspired from Darshakaratna Dasari Narayana Rao in believing his direction prowess and the story of the movie rather than to stars.
Whatever it is, when we call it a day, both Shankar and Rajamouli stand top down South and there is no one at the moment to outsmart them.